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Written question asked by Derek Twigg (Labour) on Thursday, 9 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 (named day). It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Thursday, 16 July 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Defence: Procurement

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK based Start-up businesses have contacted his Department in the past 12 months seeking to inquire on or bid for defence related work.

Answer

The Ministry of Defence does not hold centrally recorded data on the number of UK-based start-up businesses that have contacted the Department in the last 12 months to enquire about, or bid for, defence-related work. A "start-up" is not a category routinely captured within the Department's supplier or engagement systems, and businesses engage with Defence through a wide range of channels, including correspondence, meetings, supplier engagement events, trade shows, webinars and online platforms. In addition, unsuccessful bidders are not recorded by company growth stage, and therefore the Department cannot provide a reliable figure.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to improving access for small and innovative businesses. In January 2026, the Defence Office for Small Business Growth was established to help reduce barriers to entry, simplify engagement with Defence, and support non-traditional suppliers and start-ups seeking to work with the Department.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
17301
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Defence Procurement New businesses
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk